Kanye West Talks Yeezus, Fatherhood, Regrets w/ The New York Times

blame it on ShakeJune 11, 2013

With just days ticking to ’til the release of his much anticiapted LP, Yeezus, Kanye — who really does these — did an interview with The New York Times at the Shangri-la Studio while adding the final touches to his upcoming album. ‘Ye spoke on the LP, parenthood, Rick Rubin, winning GRAMMYs, regrets, and plenty more.

On winning GRAMMY Awards:
“I really appreciate the moments that I was able to win rap album of the year or whatever. But after a while, it’s like: “Wait a second; this isn’t fair. This is a setup.” I remember when both Gnarls Barkley and Justin [Timberlake] lost for Album of the Year, and I looked at Justin, and I was like: “Do you want me to go onstage for you? You know, do you want me to fight”

On My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy:
“Dark Fantasy” was my long, backhanded apology. You know how people give a backhanded compliment? It was a backhanded apology. It was like, all these raps, all these sonic acrobatics. I was like: “Let me show you guys what I can do, and please accept me back. You want to have me on your shelves.”

On regret:
“I don’t have one regret… I think that I have like, faltered, you know, as a human. My message isn’t perfectly defined. I have, as a human being, fallen to peer pressure.”

On him and Kim Kardashian’s child:
“Well, I just don’t want to talk to America about my family. Like, this is my baby. This isn’t America’s baby.”

On working with Rick Rubin:
“I’m still just a kid learning about minimalism, and he’s a master of it. It’s just really such a blessing, to be able to work with him. I want to say that after working with Rick, it humbled me to realize why I hadn’t — even though I produced “Watch the Throne”; even though I produced “Dark Fantasy” — why I hadn’t won Album of the Year yet.”

On being in love:
“Yeah, that’s what I mean when I say like, “Yo, I’m going to be super Zenned out like, five years from now.” I’m the type of rock star that likes to have a girlfriend, you know? I’m the type of soul that likes to be in love and likes to be able to focus. And that inspires me.”

On Yeezus:
“This album is moments that I haven’t done before, like just my voice and drums. What people call a rant — but put it next to just a drumbeat, and it cuts to the level of, like, Run-D.M.C. or KRS-One. The last record I can remember — and I’m going to name records that you’ll think are cheesy — but like, J-Kwon, “Tipsy.” People would think that’s like a lower-quality, less intellectual form of hip-hop, but that’s always my No. 1.”